Anyone who has ever set eyes on a Range Rover interior will remember its beauty, its careful arrangement of dials and buttons, its exquisite use of wood, aluminum and leather. A Range Rover, it seems, is the automotive equal to Sandringham House, so tastefully appointed, so richly finished, so opulent that most people will feel compelled to remove their loafers before stepping inside.

And while the scenery inside might be grand enough to ferry Her Majesty and staff to hither and yonder, there is something even more glorious inside the Autobiography edition Range Rover: the smell. Inhale the rich aromas of the semi-aniline or perforated leather covering just about every inch of real estate, including the entire headliner and dash, and the resulting effect is an olfactory experience of the highest order.

It is, quite definitively, the smell of money.

Money, of course, must not be in short supply should a Range Rover such as the Autobiography be desired, its $138,740 starting price (before tax) well above the $94,330 commanded for a base HSE. This king’s ransom, coupled with truly regal performance on road and off, instantly grants upon the Rover owner a level of prestige no other SUV can provide, not even a Porsche Cayenne Turbo or the gorgeous Mercedes-Benz G Class.

The Autobiography edition even follows the doctrine of “discretion is the better part of valour” by keeping its station in life discreet, if that’s possible with a Range Rover. Just one badge on the split-folding tailgate reveals its pedigree, although other clues give the Autobiography away as something truly unique, including a special grille, unique bumpers and fog lights, and a unique exhaust. LED exterior lighting all around compliment the package.

But it’s on the inside where the Autobiography truly leaves it signature. Cherrywood accents finished in satin, rather than gloss, create an appealing look. It’s the first time I haven’t been nauseated over wood trim. While I wasn’t enamoured with the main gauge cluster that uses a digital LCD screen to replicate real, genuine gauges, nor did the quirky navigation system appeal to me, I was impressed with the logical array of the Rover’s many buttons, each of which performs a specific task. The wood and leather steering wheel felt great to hold — though don’t expect much steering feedback out on the road, so cushioned is the Rover’s cabin from the outside world.

Those occupying the inside, however, will no doubt appreciate the heated and cooled rear seats, not to mention individual DVD monitors in the front headrests. The rear seats recline, too, and have adjustable lumbar supports. A controller on the rear door will even allow rear seat passengers to move the front passenger seat forward when it’s unoccupied for more legroom. It’s Range Rover’s way of making the rear thrones fit for even the fussiest princess bride.

Autobiography drivers, too, are given royal ascent with such features as automatic high beams that really do light up and dim when they’re supposed to, adaptive front lights that curve with the corners, blind-spot monitoring and a surround camera system that can see out from just about nook and cranny of the truck. There’s also a Harman/Kardon Logic 7 audio system with 19 speakers (no, that’s not a typo) delivering 1,200 watts of power that is, evidently, enough to set off your neighbour’s car alarm.

Such features certainly make for some damn fine driving, evidenced by the fact it became utterly impossible to pry the Autobiography out of my wife’s hands during the few days it was in my possession. And while She appreciated the all-around smoothness and full-time four-wheel drive, I came to savour the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under that stout aluminum hood. How could I not with 510 horsepower at my disposal, a figure that made towing our 1,640-kilogram boat and trailer seem like I wasn’t towing anything at all? (Maximum towing capacity is 3,500 kgs.) The six-speed automatic never had to hunt for the right gear and the SUV’s air suspension did a great job keeping the Rover level with a load on. The hitch receiver, however, is set too deep, making hook ups frustrating; and the back up camera can’t help much because it’s positioned too high in the rear spoiler to see the hitch or rear bumper.

The engine, however, made me forget all that. With so much power and torque (461 lb.-ft.), the V8 propels the 2,678 kilogram SUV from zero to 100 km in just over five seconds. It’s smooth and sounds beautiful at idle and acceleration. And while the acceleration is stunning for a vehicle with this much mass, just as remarkable was the 11.1 L/100 km average fuel economy I achieved travelling at 100 km/h on the highway. That figured climbed to 14L/100 km while towing, but even that is a good number given the weight and relatively boxy shape of the big Rover. In town, fuel consumption ranged between 15 and 18 L/100 km.

The Rover’s shape is about to change somewhat when an all-new, aluminum-framed and much lighter 2013 model arrives next year. More drastic are the changes to that gorgeous interior, which will, for better or worse, see fewer buttons and controls that currently function so well. The new Range Rover will be longer, making for even better rear-seat space, but it will still sit plenty upright. Still, I have no doubt the new Rover will — just like the current model — be just as suitable for anyone who demands the absolute epitome of luxury.